CABINET OFFICE

Terrorism

Hugo Swire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what preparations have been made outside large urban conurbations for responses to a terrorist attack; and what procedures are in place to cope and assist with the likely exodus of people from large cities in the event of an attack taking place there.

Douglas Alexander: The UK has robust plans in place for the protection of the public and of national security interests. The Government's preparations include a series of classified contingency plans for responding to a wide range of terrorist threats. These plans are regularly tested, reviewed and updated as circumstances change. Much of the response is based on generic, multi-agency, local emergency arrangements, developed within the clear guidelines set out by the Home Office.
	Evacuation planning is currently undertaken at local level, by the police and local authority emergency planners. This includes ensuring routes to and from the site of the incident remain viable, and planning for the reception and re-housing of evacuees. We are also taking steps to strengthen the regional level of co-ordination, to ensure compatibility and cohesion of local evacuation and reception plans for large-scale incidents.

Departmental Communications

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to to improve the quality of English used by departments in their communications with the general public.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office has issued guidance for departments on the Handling of Ministerial and Other Correspondence which emphasises that appropriate arrangements should be in place to ensure that the quality of all replies is high. It has also issued guidance on Plain Written English.
	In addition, the Centre for Management and Policy Studies (Civil Service College) located in my department offers a comprehensive suite of courses in writing. These aim to help civil servants to write clearly, concisely and correctly, and to tailor their writing to particular circumstances.

Fraud and Theft

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much money has been lost by his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft for each year since 1996–97.

Douglas Alexander: The cost of theft and fraud to my Department, its agencies, and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years, is shown in the table. Figures for 1996–97 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		£000s 
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Department 15 48 32 34 35 
			 Agencies — — — — — 
			 NDPBs — 1 — 1 — 
			   
			 Total 15 49 32 35 35

Government Car Service

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent in each year since 1997 towards the running of a car for Lord Sainsbury.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Lord Sainsbury runs and finances his own car. But on a few occasions he uses cars from the Government Car Service for official engagements.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

Douglas Alexander: As has been published on previous occasions, the overall number and cost for Special Advisers across all Departments is:
	
		£ million 
		
			  Number Cost 
		
		
			 1995–96 38 1.5 
			 1996–7 38 1.8 
			 1997–8 70 2.6 
			 1998–9 74 3.5 
			 1999–2000 78 4.0 
			 2000–01 79 4.1 
			 2001–02 81 5.1 
		
	
	In order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned it would not be appropriate to break down the cost by Department. As at 21 January 2003 there were 81 special advisers across all Departments. The cost for 2002–03 is not yet available.
	The number of press officers employed from 1997–98 to 2001–02 and their costs in each of these years are as follows:
	
		£000s 
		
			  Number of press officers(1) Cost per financial year 
		
		
			 1997–98 11 453,636 
			 1998–99 14 512,255 
			 1999–2000 20 752,560 
			 2000–01 16 781,817 
			 2001–02 18 798,015 
		
	
	(1) Employed in the Cabinet Office press office in January of each year.
	Financial and Human Resource information for periods prior to, and including 1996–97 is not held on the Cabinet Office's new databases and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The figure for 1999–2000 includes press officers specifically employed to manage the genetically modified foods communications unit which operated from the Cabinet Office from July 1999 to March/April 2000.
	The Cabinet Office currently has nine press officers. The relocation of resource on reduction in numbers is due to the creation of the new Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The cost for Cabinet Office press officers in 2002–03 is not yet available.

DEFENCE

Friendly Fire

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what techniques and procedures are in place to reduce friendly fire incidents among the allied forces currently being deployed; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Standard techniques and procedures have been developed in consultation with coalition partners and would be used by deployed forces to reduce the risk of friendly fire incidents. They include the management of friendly assets in both time and space and the widespread dissemination of orders, such as the Air Tasking Order, in order to ensure that all friendly assets are aware of the location and movement of own forces. As I stated in my answer to the hon Member on 18 December 2002 Official Report, column 807W, tactics, techniques and procedures complement situational awareness and target identification to form a triad of measures designed to achieve Combat Identification and minimise the risk of fratricide.

Gulf Task Force

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the task force sent to the Gulf includes a capability to help deal with (a) a major oil spill and (b) other environmental damage.

Adam Ingram: All Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels have the capability to deal with small and localised oil spills. HM ships are not however, equipped to respond to major oil spills or after significant environmental damage.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the names of British-registered companies found by UNMOVIC or the IAEA inspection teams in Iraq to have provided proscribed military equipment and material to Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised neither UNMOVIC nor the IAEA have informed us of any such discoveries to date. It is up to UNMOVIC and the IAEA to decide on the level of detail to be provided publicly about any goods that they uncover.

Iraq

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of military action against Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 30 January 2003
	The information requested is not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Royal Navy and Royal Marines - Operational Welfare Package

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the facilities which will be available to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel on deployment to the Gulf as part of the Operational Welfare Package.

Adam Ingram: The facilities which form the Operational Welfare Package available to Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel deployed to the Gulf are as follows:
	Personnel will be entitled to 20 minutes worth of free phone calls each week.
	All units will have access to satellite TV in port.
	Ships have been fitted with as much operational fitness equipment as economically feasible.
	Ships have a selection of magazines which will be delivered on stopovers.
	Ships have a selection of videos and DVDs.
	E-mail facilities will be available to personnel at sea.
	Personnel will receive double the usual laundry allowance.
	Personnel will be entitled to free airmail during the deployment.
	A combined services entertainment show will be arranged for as many personnel as possible if the deployment lasts longer than four months, and if operationally feasible.
	NAAFI services will be provided by the naval canteen services.
	Books are being provided by the Fleet Libraries Office.
	The availability of some of these facilities will vary depending on the type and role of ship.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 7 January 2002, Official Report, column 180W, on ambulance turnaround times, what information he collates on ambulance turnaround times.

David Lammy: The Department collects some fast track management information on aspects of emergency care performance. This data is unvalidated and not necessarily accurate or complete and as such is not suitable for publication.

Chernobyl

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2002, Official Report, column 896W, on Chernobyl, if he will place in the Library copies of the Eclis and Eurocas studies to which reference is made.

Hazel Blears: The European Childhood Leukaemia-Lymphoma Study (ECLIS) has produced two publications. Copies will be placed in the Library. The European Childhood Abnormality Study (EUROCAS) has yet to report.

Child Protection

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children who died of (a) abuse and (b) neglect in each of the last 10 years had been removed from the local authority child protection register within 12 months prior to their death;
	(2)  how many children who died of (a) abuse and (b) neglect in each of the last 10 years were named on the local authority child protection register.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.
	However, in April 2002, the Department of Health introduced an enhanced computerised database of serious case notifications. The database records information such as details of the incident, the child and family concerned, any criminal proceedings, whether a serious case review has been, is being or is expected to be conducted into the incident, and whether the child was on the child protection register at the time of the incident or had been at any time in the past.

Child Protection

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time taken in the last five years to complete a Part 8 Review following the death of a child is; and how many have taken longer than (a) six months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months and (d) 24 months.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Reviews will vary widely in their breadth and complexity, but in all cases lessons should be learned and acted upon as quickly as possible. They are expected to be carried out in accordance with "Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999)" guidance. This expects that the area child protection committee will determine, within one month of a case coming to light, whether to conduct a review. The review should be undertaken and completed within a further four months. Exceptionally, the complexity of the case or other factors may necessitate a longer timescale, which should be discussed and agreed with the Social Services Inspectorate.

Child Protection

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the purpose is of undertaking a Part 8 Review following the death of a child.

Jacqui Smith: The purpose of serious case reviews carried out in accordance with "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (1999), the Government's child protection guidance (known widely as part 8 reviews') is to:
	establish whether there are lessons to be learned from the case about the way in which local professionals and agencies work together to safeguard children;
	identify clearly what those lessons are, how they will be acted upon, and what is expected to change as a result; and as a consequence,
	to improve inter-agency working and better safeguard children.

Child Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what care arrangements are made for children who are victims of child prostitution to ensure they are placed in a safe care environment and receive treatment.

Jacqui Smith: Children involved in prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation are likely to be in need of welfare services and—in many cases—protection under the Children Act 1989.
	Where there is a risk to the life of a child or a likelihood of serious harm, an agency with statutory child protection powers, for example, the police or councils with social services responsibilities, should act quickly to secure the immediate initial safety of the child. In some cases, it may be necessary to ensure either that the child remains in, or is removed to, a safe place. Under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, a local authority may provide accommodation for any child within their area if they consider that to do so would safeguard or promote the child's welfare.
	When a child is identified as involved in prostitution or other commercial sexual exploitation, or at risk of being drawn into it, an assessment of the child's needs will be undertaken in accordance with "Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution" (2000), "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (1999), the Government's child protection guidance, and the "Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families" (2000). This assessment should be followed by consideration of how best to address the identified needs of the child and development of a care plan for the child who is in need. The plan could include a range of services, for example, mentoring to assist a return to education or employment, and help to secure appropriate health services.

Delayed Discharge

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the distribution of delayed discharge funding, with particular reference to those local authorities which are affected by the ceiling on grant increase for services spending.

Jacqui Smith: The Access and Systems Capacity Grant 2003–04 is being distributed according to the new older people's formula for social services. We have not yet made any decisions on the distribution of the additional £100 million per full year, related to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill. The distribution formula is not affected by the system of general grant expenditure increases.

Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Yeovil

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans are being drawn up by (a) East Somerset NHS trust and (b) Dorset and Somerset health authority to establish a new diagnostic and treatment centre in Yeovil; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority in their capacity plan have set out a range of proposals to meet local targets for access.
	Among their proposals was a development at Yeatman hospital in Sherbourne, which sought to expand capacity in the area served by east Somerset national health service trust. This scheme has many of the features of the national diagnostic treatment centre (DTC) programme as it seeks to create dedicated elective capacity for a modern, patient focused, high productivity clinical service. The trust is currently producing a business case for this development, which will require approval by local primary care trusts and the StHA before it proceeds.
	A proposal to create a new provider DTC in Somerset delivered through the local procurement route has been agreed. It is not currently envisaged that this DTC will be in Yeovil. A further proposal was to explore whether a new provider DTC may be required to serve an area in eastern Dorset and western Hampshire. It is not currently envisaged that this DTC will be in Yeovil.

Maternity Units

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many proposals there are (a) to convert and (b) to establish maternity units as midwife-only centres.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Disorders (Children)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children with a mental disorder in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested. However a survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain was carried out in 1999 by the Office of National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health, Scottish National Executive and National Assembly for Wales. Prevalence rates were produced for five to 15 year olds in the three main categories of mental disorder, i.e. conduct disorder, hyperactivity and emotional disorder.
	The key findings on prevalence were:
	about ten per cent, of children aged five to 1 5 years in Great Britain had a mental disorder in 1999
	five per cent., had conduct disorders (e.g. aggressive and antisocial behaviour), four per cent., had emoional disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression) and one per cent, were hyperkinetic (inattention, overactivity)
	mental disorders were significantly more common in boys than girls in both the five to ten year and the 11–15 year old age groups.

Recruitment of Ambulance Staff

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS ambulance trusts have stopped recruitment of ambulance staff.

John Hutton: The recruitment of ambulance staff is a local matter and, as such, the Department does not hold this information centrally.
	The Department does, however, collect data on the total numbers of ambulance staff recruited. There has been an increase in the total numbers of ambulance staff from 15,280, or 14,480 whole time equivalents employed in 1995, to 16,920 or 16,320 whole time equivalents, employed in 2001.

Residential Care (Children)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children there were in residential care in (a) England and (b) Haltemprice and Howden in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information available on looked after children in residential care is shown in the table. Figures for East Riding of Yorkshire council have been provided, as data for Haltemprice and Howden are not available.
	
		Number of children in residential care(2) in England and East Riding of Yorkshire at 31 March 1997–2002
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England 7,900 8,500 8,300 8,900 8,500 8,600 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 25 45 35 45 35 (3)— 
		
	
	(2) Includes children in secure units, children's homes and hostels, residential schools and other residential settings.
	(3) 2002 figures for East Riding of Yorkshire are not yet available.
	Note:
	All figures are rounded—national figures to the nearest 100 and local authority figures to the nearest 5.

Waiting Lists (Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on in-patient waiting lists for (a) Hull Royal Infirmary and (b) Castle Hill hospital in the last month for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: At the end of November 2002 there were 9,913 patients waiting for in-patient treatment at Hull and east Yorkshire hospitals national health service trust.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

International Atomic Energy Agency

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will increase the United Kingdom's donation to the International Atomic Energy Agency to assist the international inspection and safeguards regime.

Nigel Griffiths: In addition to its assessed contributions to the regular budget of the IAEA, the UK makes a number of voluntary contributions to it for specific activities, including those carried out by the Agency's Safeguards Department.
	The agency is now discussing with member states proposals that it has put forward for the regular budget for 2004 and 2005. These proposals include a significant increase in funding for safeguards. The UK has welcomed the proposal that the budget be increased to enable the agency to better carry out its statutory and other obligations. We believe that, if a convincing case is made for an increase in the safeguards budget, member states must ensure that the extra resources are made available.

Ammunition Manufacturing

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her Department regulates the manufacture of ammunition.

Nigel Griffiths: DTI has no specific responsibility for regulating the manufacture of ammunition.

BNFL

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list assets and liabilities of BNFL which will be (a) transferred to the Liabilities Management Authority, (b) retained by BNFL and (c) shared between each.

Brian Wilson: Paragraph 5.5 of The White Paper 'Managing the Nuclear Legacy—A Strategy for Action' (Cm5552) sets out the aims and basic framework for restructuring BNFL and transferring assets and liabilities to the LMA. Those aims remain unchanged. Details of the restructuring will be finalised in due course.

Business Link

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many telephone inquiries the Business Link national 0845 telephone number received per week in (a) September 2002 and (b) December 2002; how many inquiries per week led to appointments for Business Link advisers; and if he will make a statement about the different categories of enquiries received between September and December 2002.

Nigel Griffiths: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) September Weekly Telephone Inquiries to Business Link 0845 number
	
		
			 Date Total 
		
		
			 1—7 September 2002 1,061 
			 8—14 September 2002 1,120 
			 15—21 September 2002 2,053 
			 22—30 September 2002 1,924 
			 September 6,158 
		
	
	Note:
	Active Publicity campaign in progress throughout September, hence higher call volume.
	(b) December Weekly Telephone Inquiries to Business Link 0845 number
	
		
			 Date Total 
		
		
			 1—8 December 2002 1,061 
			 9—15 December 2002 1,159 
			 16—22 December 2002 909 
			 23—31 December 2002 267 
			 December 3,570 
		
	
	Callers are directed via the 0845 link to their local Business Link Operator (BLO) who then treats each case individually. Adviser support is provided where the BLO judge that course best fits customer need. SBS does not require BLOs to retain detailed, constant monitoring information on such referrals.

Call Centres

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many call centres are contracted or operated by her Department and its agencies.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department and its agencies have a number of call centre operations in place as well as specific inquiry number helplines which will vary in number at any given time to reflect particular initiatives we are engaged in.
	The number of call centres currently in use across the Department and its agencies is 11. These involve a mix of 0800, 0870, 0845 and STD (e.g. 020) numbers and are either operated direct by the Department or its agencies or as a managed service on our behalf.
	Information is not available centrally on the current number of inquiry helplines but at the last review in 2001 some 33 departmental and 25 agency helplines existed. These generally utilise STD numbers but some 0800 and 0845 numbers are also used.

Car Sales

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1) what recent study she has made of new car prices in (a) the UK and (b) other EU countries;
	(2)  whether her Department monitors the regulations designed to ensure that private buyers receive the same level of discounts on new car purchases as fleet buyers; and what research she has undertaken as to whether the regulations are ensuring that private car buyers do not subsidise fleet buyers.

Melanie Johnson: The Office of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the Supply of New Cars Order 2000. The Order is one of several factors influencing car prices. These include a renegotiated block exemption from EU competition rules for vehicle supply and servicing introduced on 1 October 2002.
	The EC publishes a six-monthly study of list prices of new cars, across a range of countries and across a range of models. In the UK, the Alliance & Leicester in conjunction with What Car?, publishes a monthly survey of new car prices.
	The DGFT has a statutory duty to keep the Order under review. At the beginning of last year the DGFT published a report on an investigation into alleged breaches of the Order by three major car suppliers following a complaint from the National Franchised Dealer Association and the Consumers Association. This concluded that the anti-discrimination rules of the Order covering sales to fleet customers and sales to dealers had not been broken.

Debt Taskforce

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Task Force on Tackling Over-Indebtedness cost (a) to establish and (b) to run in each year since its establishment.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 22 January 2003
	The members of the Task Force have not been remunerated. DTI staffing costs, have amounted to a total of 119,900. (October 2000 to January 2003).

Energy White Paper

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Energy White Paper will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 30 January 2003
	The White Paper will be published shortly.

Estate Agents

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take measures to establish an independent regulator of estate agents; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The conduct of estate agents is independently regulated by the Director General of Fair Trading, who has powers under the Estate Agents Act 1979 to ban persons he considers unfit to carry out estate agency work.
	The Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating the market for estate agents in England and Wales, including the effectiveness of the Act. I will consider carefully any recommendations the Director General of Fair Trading makes about future regulation of this market.

Financial Advice

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she plans to take to improve the availability of independent, free financial advice to consumers.

Melanie Johnson: There are currently a number of providers of independent, free financial advice to consumers including that provided by the Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), and the Federation of Information and Advice Centres (FIAC). In addition there is a large amount of information available on the internet, including through the Financial Services Authority's website.
	There are also a number of organisations such as National Debtline, Consumer Credit Counselling Services and Payplan which, while primarily focused on providing independent, free debt advice, will offer consumers contacting them general financial advice where relevant.
	We are reviewing Government policy on debt advice in response to recommendations in the PIU report "Lending Support: Improving Government's Use of Loans" published March 2002.

Fossil Fuel (Morecambe)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on fossil fuel reserves near Morecambe.

Brian Wilson: The sea adjacent to Morecambe includes a number of gas fields that have significant remaining reserves which continue to provide a major source of swing gas during times of high demand. A small onshore gas field is in production to the south of Morecambe, and there is some possibility of further small gas developments.

MOD Spectrum

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of whether the spectrum allocated to the Ministry of Defence is being used in a manner which best serves the public interest.

Patricia Hewitt: There are effective mechanisms in place to ensure effective use of MOD spectrum, which will be further strengthened as a result of the recommendations of the independent Review of Radio Spectrum Management.
	My Department's Radiocommunications Agency has a close working relationship with the Ministry of Defence and the use of the spectrum allocated to defence is kept under constant review, balancing the needs of national defence against the requirements of other spectrum users, this process is overseen by the United Kingdom Spectrum Strategy Committee, a Cabinet Office committee, jointly chaired by the Radiocommunications Agency and the Ministry of Defence.
	Over the years, much defence spectrum has been made available for commercial services, either on a shared or exclusive basis. The Ministry of Defence also pays an annual charge to the RA for its spectrum use. This is calculated on a comparable basis to civil users and provides an important incentive to efficient spectrum use.
	The independent Review of Radio Spectrum Management has made a number of recommendations designed to promote the optimal use of defence spectrum. These include an audit of defence spectrum, the continued application of spectrum pricing in parallel with non-military users on a comparable basis and the introduction of trading to provide incentives for effective spectrum use. The Government have accepted these recommendations and their implementation is now being taken forward by the Radiocommunications Agency with the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Industry

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reactors of origin were of the plutonium used in the MO" fuel sent to Japan and Switzerland from Sellafield; and what safeguards arrangements apply to this plutonium.

Brian Wilson: It is not possible to identify definitively the individual reactors in which specific batches of plutonium allocated to the ownership of specific customers might originally have been produced. Reprocessing customers receive back separated plutonium based on that contained in the fuel they originally supplied. This is assessed before the fuel is reprocessed. The nature of commercial reprocessing in large-scale bulk chemical processing facilities means that the plutonium contained in the fuel becomes blended with that contained in fuel from other reactors.
	International safeguards arrangements for MO" fuel assemblies include measurement of the nuclear material content of the fuel before its shipment from the fabrication plant and then the application of seals to the transport flasks into which the assemblies have been loaded. On receipt at a reactor facility seals are checked and removed before the fuel is placed in storage or loaded into the reactor. Such fuel storage and reactor loading is monitored by safeguards inspections combined with the use of containment and surveillance equipment (e.g. cameras and seals). Safeguards measures continue to be applied after MO" fuel has been loaded in a reactor.

Street Traders

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many pedlar's licences were issued in each month since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 30 January 2003
	This information is not held centrally by the Department.

Street Traders

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of street traders who are operating illegally; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 30 January 2003
	None.

Peru ( UK Investment)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice her Department issues on UK investment into Peru; when and for what reason this advice was last updated; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Advice on direct investment into Peru, including reference to the legal framework governing foreign investment in the country, is available on the Trade Partners UK website www.tradepartners.gov.uk which is regularly updated.
	For all markets, Trade Partners UK advises companies to base their decision on whether and where to invest on a sound knowledge and understanding of local conditions.
	Trade Partners UK, a joint DTI/FCO body, has the objective of enhancing the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investments.

Plutonium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which international agreements cover the arrangements permitting the swapping of plutonium batches between that material owned by British Nuclear Fuels, British Energy or the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and that owned by foreign customers as held at Sellafield.

Brian Wilson: In the European Union, the ownership of nuclear materials is governed by the Euratom provisions that deal with the supply of nuclear materials (essentially Chapter 6 of the Euratom Treaty). These provide that exchanges of material—which are basically a commercial matter for the companies concerned—require the approval of the Euratom Supply Agency on a case-by-case basis.
	External obligations, for example limiting the use of such material to peaceful, non-explosive purposes are, however, a feature of some international nuclear co-operation agreements, such as those between, Euratom and the United States, Euratom and Australia and Euratom and Canada. In some cases where there are no Euratom agreements in place, there are bilateral agreements which contain comparable provisions. The owners of nuclear material can request that external obligations attached to one batch of material can be exchanged or swapped for different obligations on another equivalent batch of material. Each such request for a swap involving material that is subject to Euratom co-operation agreements must be approved by the Services of the European Commission, whose assessment takes account of the characteristics of the nuclear material concerned, (i.e. to ensure that the swap would not diminish the obligations involved) and the reasoning behind the request.

Service Delivery Agreements

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when (a) the Postal Services Commission's, (b) Ofgem's and (c) the Office of Telecommunications' service delivery agreements for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

Patricia Hewitt: None of these bodies is required to produce a service delivery agreement for the period 2003 to 2006. However, they all publish information on their targets and objectives and how they will aim to achieve them, elsewhere.
	The Postal Services Commission produces a yearly business plan, which is published on its website (http://www.psc.gov.uk). The plan for 2003–04 is due to be published by mid-February 2003.
	Each year Ofgem publishes a three-year corporate plan. The plan for 2002–05 is currently available on its website (http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/public/pubframe.htm) and the plan for 2003–06 is due to be published by April 2003 and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Office of Telecommunications produces an annual report and a management plan, both of which contain information on targets and delivery. The annual report for 2001 is currently available on its website (http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/about—oftel/index.htm) and the 2002 annual report is being drafted. The management plan for 2002–03 is published on the website and the management plan for 2003–04 is due to be published shortly.

Telephone Services

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the telephone services operated by her Department and its agencies; and how many calls have been made to each service in the last 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department and its agencies operate a range of telephone services in support of their work, in particular:
	Direct Dialling In, which is used extensively throughout the Department and its agencies, giving direct access to customers to individual members of staff or to advertised call centres and inquiry points.
	Call Centres, with 11 currently in use, offering advice and guidance on a range of issues.
	General Inquiry Points, put in place to handle specific areas of help and information. Numbers will vary at any given time but at the last review these totalled some 33 DTI and 25 Agency Inquiry Points.
	Numbers of calls made to each of these services are not held centrally but the numbers are significant. For example, ACAS, who run two call centres, received 750,000 calls in the last 12 months and the main DTI Inquiry Point received 304,800 calls during 2002.

UN Convention on International Sales

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the UN Convention on International Sales.

Nigel Griffiths: Primary legislation will be needed to implement United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The United Kingdom intends to ratify the convention, subject to the availability of parliamentary time.

TRANSPORT

Central Railway

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the recent SRA report on the Central Railway project that responded to the consultant report to the SRA of 23April 2002.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 December 2002 Official Report, column 351W to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley).

A63

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) minor, (b) serious and (c) fatal injuries there were at the A63 Melton junction in each year since 1997.

John Spellar: The number of (a) minor, (b) serious and (c) fatal injuries from road traffic accidents at the A63 Melton junction in each year since 1997, are shown in the table.
	
		Casualties by severity at the A63 Melton junction, 1997 to 2001
		
			 Severity 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Fatal 0 1 3 0 0 
			 Serious 0 3 1 0 0 
			 Slight 2 27 16 10 9 
			 All 2 31 20 10 9

A63

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason his Department did not issue a definitive response to the inspector's report on the A63 Grade Separated Junction proposal from the Highways Agency.

John Spellar: The Inspector's Report on the A63 Melton Public Inquiry contained conclusions that supported the Highways Agency's proposals in all respects apart from one element of the Side Roads Order. This related to an alternative proposal for a junction at Corby Park, submitted by East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC). The Inspector concluded that further work should be carried out to check the feasibility of ERYC's alternative. That is why it was not possible for the Secretary of State to issue a definitive response on the outcome of the Public Inquiry.
	The Highways Agency is currently working with ERYC to identify the optimum solution and reach agreement on the way forward. It is hoped that an announcement will be made soon.

Correspondence

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will reply to the letter of 22 July 2002 from the right hon. Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West relating to Railtrack and CalSolutions Ltd.

John Spellar: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 30 January 2003.

Road Scheme Blight

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list road schemes proposed by his Department which will have effects on (a) sites of special interest, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (c) national parks; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which (a) sites of special scientific interest and (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty stand to be affected by trunk road and motorway schemes in England and Wales for which preferred routes have been announced.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Gregory Barker dated 31 January 2003
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking him to list the road proposals which will affect sites of special interest, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks, and which Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and AONBs are affected by trunk road and motorway schemes for which preferred routes have been announced.
	Please see the attached table giving this information in respect of trunk roads and motorways in England. Roads in Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales. We have interpreted sites of special interest to be the same as SSSI.
	I am unable to comment on the effect of any potential schemes yet to come out of the Multi Modal or other studies that are currently in progress.

Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when decisions were made to approve each of the road schemes listed in the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

David Jamieson: The dates on which schemes were added to the Targeted Programme of Improvements following decisions taken by Ministers are as follows:
	
		
			 31 July 1998  
		
		
			 M25 J12–15 Widening 
			 M60 J 5–8 (formerly M63 J6–9 Widening) 
			 A1 (M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor 
			 A1 (M) Wetherby to Walshford 
			 A1 Willowburn-Denwick Improvement 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 
			 A2 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement 
			 A5 Nesscliffe Bypass 
			 A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement 
			 A6 Rothwell—Desborough Bypass 
			 A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass 
			 A6 Great Glen Bypass 
			 A6 Clapham Bypass 
			 A6 Alvaston 
			 A10 Wadesmill-Colliers End Bypass 
			 A11 Roundham Heath-Attleborough Dualling 
			 A14 Rookery Crossroads Grade Separated Junction 
			 A21 Lamberhurst Bypass 
			 A27 Polegate Bypass 
			 A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement 
			 A41 Aston Clinton Bypass 
			 A43 Whitefield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement 
			 A43 Silverstone Bypass 
			 A43 M40-B4031 Dualling 
			 A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement 
			 A63 Selby Bypass 
			 A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass 
			 A120 Stansted Braintree 
			 A249 Iwade—Queenborough Improvement 
			 A303 Stonehenge 
			 A421 Great Barford Bypass 
			 A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass 
			 A500 City Road/Stoke Road Junctions 
			 A650 Bingley Relief Road 
			 A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, Hull 
			 24 March 2000  
			 A74(M) Carlisle—Guardsmil upgrading to motorway 
			 A11 Fiveways to Thetford Improvement 
			 A11 Attleborough Bypass Improvement 
			 A47 Thorney Bypass 
			 17 October 2000  
			 A63 Melton Grade Separated Junction 
			 28 March 2001  
			 M62 Junction 6 Improvement 
			 A1 Peterborough—Blyth Grade Separated Junctions 
			 A3 Hindhead Improvement 
			 A14 Haughley New St.—Stowmarket Improvement 
			 A30 Bodmin-Indian Queens Improvement 
			 A38 Dobwalls Bypass 
			 A46 Newark—Widmerpool Improvement 
			 A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement 
			 16 August 2001  
			 A483 Pant—Llanymynech Bypass 
			 27 February 2002  
			 A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement 
			 10 April 2002  
			 A417 Blunsdon Bypass 
			 A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvements at Winderwath 
			 25 June 2002  
			 A1(M) Bramham to Wetherby 
			 A1(M) Dishforth to Leeming 
			 A1(M) Leeming to Barton 
			 2 July 2002  
			 A64 Rillington Bypass 
			 19 August 2002  
			 M40/A404 Handy Cross Junction Improvement 
			 22 August 2002  
			 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Improvement 
			 A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement 
			 A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement 
			 28 August 2002  
			 A428 Caxton Common to Hardwick Improvement 
			 16 October 2002  
			 A1 Stannington Junction 
			 A30 Merrymeet Junction 
			 A66 Long Newton Junction 
			 10 December 2002  
			 M4 Junction 18 Eastbound Diverge 
			 M5 Junction 17 to 18A Northbound Climbing Lane (Hallen Hill) 
			 M5 Junction 19 to 20 Southbound Climing Lane (Naish Hill) 
			 M5 Junction 19 to 20 Northbound Climbing Lane (Tickenham Hill) 
			 A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass 
			 A419 Commonhead Grade Separated Junction 
		
	
	The A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road was originally included in the TPI on 31 July 1998 but subsequently became the responsibility of the Mayor for London.

Strategic Rail Authority (External Consultants)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) technical consultants and (b) financial consultants used by the Strategic Rail Authority since 3 July 2001 on a call-off basis, the total amount paid to each consultant; and the nature of the projects;
	(2)  if he will list the technical and financial consultants awarded contracts by the Strategic Rail Authority between 3 July 2001 and 31 March 2002, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of each contract;
	(3)  pursuant to his answer, 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 108W, on Strategic Rail Authority (Consultants), if he will list (a) the total amount spent, (b) the technical and financial consultants awarded contracts of £25,000 and less by the Strategic Rail Authority since April 2002, (c) the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and (d) the value of each contract.

David Jamieson: Information on contracts worth less than £25,000; and those awarded prior to April 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information on call-off contracts is in the table.
	
		£ 
		
			 Consultant Project Value 
		
		
			 Booz Alien and Hamilton Rolling stock strategy definition >25,000 
			 EC Harris Managing costs and estimates during infrastructure and development projects >25,000 
			 Franklin and Andrews Managing costs and estimates during infrastructure and development projects >25,000 
			 Mott McDonald Technical consultant for the specification and the measurement of project outputs >25,000 
			 Nichols South Central replacement project >25,000 
			 Nichols Felixstowe-Nuneaton gauge project >25,000

Thames Valley Multi-modal Study

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost has been of the Thames Valley multi-modal study.

John Spellar: The Thames Valley Multi-Modal Study is expected to cost £1,250,300.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the evidential basis was for the description by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Eduction of some higher education courses as Mickey Mouse; and to which courses she was referring.

Margaret Hodge: I was referring to any course where the content is not intellectually rigorous and where there is not a clearly designed purpose. I made the comment in the context of ensuring that the expansion of higher education is both relevant and appropriate to meet the needs of learners and employers, particularly when we are seeking a contribution towards the cost of tuition from students.

Scottish Universities

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) Scottish university representatives as to the possible implications for Scotland of the changes for English and Welsh universities announced in his statement of 22 January 2003, Official Report, columns 301–09.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2003
	My right hon. Friend meets members of the Scottish Executive from time to time in the course of normal business, as indeed do I. There have also been specific discussions during the higher education review, including the possible implications for Scotland.
	The White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", identified the need for further discussions with the Devolved Administrations to consider the impact of our proposals for student and institutional funding on flows of students between UK countries.

Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the maximum values of Learning and Skills Council training allowance are (a) by region and (b) by sector within each region.

Margaret Hodge: We do not set a maximum value on training allowances paid by the Learning and Skills Council. The minimum training allowance is 40 per week, although even here, local Learning and Skills Councils have discretion to increase this minimum depending on local circumstances, such as wage rates for unskilled employment.

Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research the Department has carried out on the relationship between the level of Learning and Skills Council training allowance and the rates of young people entering full-time training.

Margaret Hodge: We have not undertaken any specific research on the relationship between the level of the minimum training allowance and the numbers of young people entering full-time training. The majority of young people in full-time Modern Apprenticeships are employed and receive a wage rather than the allowance.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he defines the meaning of his phrase 'fair access' in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: As set out in "The Future of Higher Education" (Cm 5735), fair access means that the opportunities that higher education brings are available to all those who have the potential to benefit from them, regardless of their background.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Import Declarations

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her Department's policy (a) to introduce manufacturer/importer declarations on products manufactured outside the European Union stating that an article does not contain and release chemicals restricted in the EU and (b) to increase the use of animal testing in order to produce the test information required by the European Union's chemicals management system REACH; and if she will make a statement.[Transferred]

Michael Meacher: The Government supports the overall aim and approach set out in the Commission's White Paper of February 2001 on a Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy. As part of the process of developing its position in preparation for negotiations on the resultant legislation (expected in 2003) the Government published a Position Statement on 9 December, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. This is not a definitive statement of the Government's negotiating position, not least because the Commission has still to publish proposals for legislation. The Statement focuses on the main elements of the system itself and how it might function.
	In negotiating the legislation when it emerges, the Government will have three overarching objectives:
	Creating a fast, efficient and workable process of testing, screening and assessing chemical substances to provide the information necessary to control those substances of concern, starting with the most harmful, because of their impacts on human health or the environment;
	Keeping animal testing to the minimum necessary to protect human health and the environment; and
	Maintaining or enhancing the competitiveness of the chemical industry.
	In addition, we also want to see a system that is transparent to all interested parties in its operation and that provides consumers, workers and users of substances with the level of information they require about the substances with which they come into contact.
	In practical terms we believe it would be difficult to enforce a requirement where every substance that had gone into the manufacture of an article was registered in accordance with the proposed new regulations. However, it may be possible to place a requirement on importers of articles to make a declaration that the imported article did not contain any labile substance of high concern which was likely to be released.
	On animal testing, as stated above, the Government wishes to ensure that vertebrate animal testing is kept to the absolute minimum necessary to provide sufficient information for decision-making on health and environmental protection. For example, one early estimate of the number of extra animal tests necessary to meet the system described in the White Paper came to 12 million, whereas the ideas outlined in the Government's Position Statement would require far fewer (around 1.3 million).
	The Government and Devolved Administrations position statement on the New European Chemical Strategy, a copy of this is in the House Library and can be found on the Defra web site at www.defra.aov.uk

Common Agricultural Policy

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the inclusion of a specific objective in the European Commission's Mid-Term Review that CAP reform should work in the interests of poverty reduction and food security.

Elliot Morley: We estimate that the Common Agricultural Policy costs the average family of four in the United Kingdom between 8 and 9 per week through higher food prices and taxes. We believe reform is necessary to reduce this cost and contribute towards our wider poverty reduction objectives. Similarly, reform of the CAP would assist objectives of poverty reduction in developing countries, by increasing access for their agricultural produce to EU and third country markets.
	The CAP was originally introduced in 1962 to address a strategic need for food security in Europe. However, as production responded, surpluses became chronic and required increasingly heavy expenditure. Food security is now less of a policy driver, and we would prefer to see producers rewarded for delivering public benefits focussed on the environment and wider rural economy, rather than over-production.

Common Agricultural Policy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reform of the Common Agricultural Policy has taken place since 1997; what recent discussions have taken place with European colleagues on this matter; what proposals she has for future reform; and when they will be submitted to the EU.

Elliot Morley: The Agenda 2000 reform package, agreed at the March 1999 Berlin European Council, brought EU cereal, milk and beef prices closer to world levels, and gave member states some flexibility to use CAP money for environmental schemes. It represented a significant shift from price support to direct payments and it reduced some of the economic distortions of the CAP, enabling the formulation of an integrated EU rural development policy.
	On 22 January 2003 the Commission issued its draft legislative proposals for the 'Mid-term Review' of Agenda 2000. The Government has welcomed these proposals, believing further reform of the CAP to be necessary for both domestic and international reasons. In particular, we were pleased to see formal proposals to break the link between subsidy and production ('decoupling'), which will give producers greater flexibility to exploit market opportunities. However, we also have concerns over some elements of the proposals. For example, the proposed mechanism for transferring funds to support rural development is complex, would be hard to administer and would unfairly impact on larger farms; and we are disappointed at the proposed extension of milk quotas.
	The first formal discussion of these proposals took place at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 27 and 28 January. Further Council discussions are planned for the coming months. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets her EU counterparts bilaterally to discuss this issue. Since the start of this year she has met both the French and Greek Agriculture Ministers.

Common Agricultural Policy

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the reform of CAP.

Elliot Morley: The Government welcomed publication on 22 January of the European Commission's formal legislative proposals for reform of the CAP. In particular, we were pleased to see formal proposals to break the link between subsidy and production (decoupling), which will give producers greater flexibility to exploit market opportunities. However, we have concerns with some elements of the proposals. For example, the proposed mechanism for transferring funds to support rural development is complex, would be hard to administer and would unfairly impact on larger farms; and we are disappointed at the proposed extension of milk quotas.

Environment Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency budget has been in each year since 1994.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency became operational on 1 April 1996.
	The total annual budget of the agency for each year since then, ending 31 March, is as follows:
	
		Total annual budget for Environment Agency
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			 1997 581 
			 1998 610 
			 1999 612 
			 2000 640 
			 2001 655 
			 2002 707 
			 2003 (4)760 
		
	
	(4) Forecast.

Environment Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff have been employed at the Environment Agency in each year since 1994.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency became operational on 1 April 1996.
	The numbers of staff employed by the agency in each year since then, ending 31 March, are as follows:
	
		Number of staff employed by Environment Agency
		
			  (a) full-time (b) part-time 
		
		
			 1996 8,325 522 
			 1997 8,502 621 
			 1998 8,586 487 
			 1999 9,163 544 
			 2000 9,699 597 
			 2001 9,862 614 
			 2002 10,372 445 
			 2003 10,195 (5)698 
		
	
	(5) At 31 December 2002

Farm Statistics

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average annual direct subsidy receipts were for farmers in each EU member state from (a) 2000 to 2002, (b) 1997 to 1999 and (c) 1994 to 1996.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 29 January 2003
	Based on available data, the following table gives the average level of CAP direct subsidy paid by EU member state.
	
		Average level of CAP direct subsidy paid by EU member state
		
			  2000–02 (f) 1997–99 1994–96 
			  Euro million Euro/ecu million ecu million 
		
		
			 Belgium 320 270 230 
			 Denmark 745 670 550 
			 Germany 4,215 3,520 2,830 
			 Greece 2,295 2,290 2,050 
			 Spain 4,190 3,670 3,055 
			 France 6,710 6,085 5,150 
			 Ireland 900 785 605 
			 Italy 3,580 3,265 2,600 
			 Luxembourg 20 15 15 
			 Netherlands 245 215 175 
			 Austria(6) 515 450 250 
			 Portugal 440 370 325 
			 Finland(6) 365 250 120 
			 Sweden(6) 540 445 215 
			 UK 3,325 3,270 2,245 
			 EU 28,405 25,575 20,130 
		
	
	(6) The 1994–96 average for Austria, Finland and Sweden covers only 1995 and 1996.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 million Euro/ecu.
	Source:
	Commission data.

Farm Statistics

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in each member state are (a) under 50 hectares, (b) between 51 and 150 hectares, (c) 151 to 250 hectares, (d) 251 to 350 hectares, (e) 351 to 450 hectares, (f) 451 to 550 hectares and (g) 551 hectares and over.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 29 January 2003
	The most recent results available on farm sizes across member states are from the 1997 Farm Structure Survey, are shown in the table. Results from the 2000 survey are expected to be released by Eurostat later in 2003.
	
		Holdings by size classes of agricultural area
		
			 Size classes of the holdings (hectares agricultural area) 
			  <2ha 2-<5ha 5-<10ha 10-<20ha 20-<50 ha 30-<50 ha 50-<100ha >=100ha Total 
			  Number of holdings (1,000 holdings)  
		
		
			 EU 15 2,376.8 1,524.9 929.2 757.7 386.9 415.1 372.2 226.3 6,989.1 
			 Belgium 12.1 9.5 935 11.5 8.4 9.4 5.6 11.1 67.2 
			 Denmark 1.2 1.1 10.3 13.5 8.6 11.0 12.0 5.6 63.2 
			 Germany 85.1 82.9 77.9 90.4 57.4 65.0 53.3 22.3 534.4 
			 Greece 382.4 244.3 116.1 53.8 13.4 8.1 2.7 0.5 821.4 
			 Spain 329.1 318.1 197.8 149.3 59.7 55.5 51.5 47.3 1,208.3 
			 France 96.6 85.8 61.8 75.0 60.5 98.4 125.7 76.1 679.8 
			 Ireland 2.1 9.0 18.4 40.1 29.1 28.2 16.6 4.2 147.8 
			 Italy 1,187.0 566.7 273.2 151.0 53.5 42.5 27.4 14.1 2,315.2 
			 Luxembourg 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.9 0.2 3.0 
			 The Netherlands 18.0 16.5 17.3 19.3 14.3 14.9 6.6 1.1 107.9 
			 Austria 33.1 46.6 39.4 46.8 21.4 14.5 5.7 2.8 210.1 
			 Portugal 207.1 110.0 48.7 26.5 8.5 6.3 4.2 5.4 416.7 
			 Finland 2.2 5.7 14.5 27.4 17.8 15.9 7.0 1.1 91.4 
			 Sweden 3.4 9.4 15.9 18.2 10.9 12.7 13.1 6.0 89.6 
			 United Kingdom 17.1 19.0 28.4 34.7 23.2 32.3 39.9 38.6 233.2 
		
	
	Source:
	1997 EU Farm Structure Survey

Flooding

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to prevent the flooding of properties along the Trent in Nottinghamshire; and what financial provision has been made for flood defence in Nottinghamshire in 2003–04.

Elliot Morley: This Department provides grants for flood and coastal defence capital works, and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score Operational responsibility for flood management measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing.
	I understand that there are approximately 250 km of flood defences along the Trent and its tributaries which have been constructed by the Environment Agency and its predecessors. The Agency spends some £1.5million per year on the maintenance of these flood defence systems.
	Defra encourages operating authorities to take a strategic approach to flood and coastal defence problems and to consider the need for schemes and develop proposals within an overall strategy for catchment areas so as not to create problems elsewhere. The Agency has commissioned consultants to prepare a strategy which will inform flood defence options for the River Trent between Stoke-on-Trent and Newark. Defra is providing grant aid for related studies. It is expected that the strategy will be published this Autumn. The Agency then plan to prepare a strategy for the tidal reach of the River between Newark and the Number Estuary. Defra will consider any capital works emerging from these strategies against the criteria above.

Fly-tipping

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on changes in the rate of fly-tipping in the last three years.

Michael Meacher: Data on the level of fly-tipping is not currently collected centrally. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fly-tipping may have increased recently, but the Government have no firm evidence. We intend to carry out some further work in this area to ensure that we have a firm data base to inform future policy development.

Future of Farming and Food Report

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the recommendations laid out in the Report on the Future of Farming and Food and her Department's response to it in the light of the recent proposals for common agricultural policy reform.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 29 January 2003
	The European Commission's proposals for reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), published on 22 January 2003, are based closely on proposals in their discussion document of 10 July 2002. Therefore, we see no need to review the Government response to the independent Policy Commission, published alongside the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food for England on 12 December 2002.
	The Commission's proposals are a positive step towards reform and will benefit farming. The Government will engage positively in negotiations, working to ensure a fair package for the UK.

Recycling

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much farm waste was used in recycling across the UK in 2002.

Michael Meacher: Agricultural waste is currently excluded from waste management controls in Great Britain by section 75(7)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. No data are therefore held centrally of either the total amount of agricultural waste produced annually in the UK or the amount recycled. The same position applies under Northern Ireland legislation.

Waste Disposal Plants

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what control she has over the operation of waste disposal plants.

Michael Meacher: The Department controls the regulation of waste disposal and recovery sites through a licensing system that is set out in legislation. The Environment Agency must have regard to the legislative framework and to any statutory guidance provided by my Department when discharging its functions as the Government's regulator and when fulfilling the requirements of the European Directives on waste.
	The operation of waste disposal plants is largely in the hands of the private sector. The Environment Agency prescribes the nature of the operations through waste management licences and pollution prevention and control permits and it supervises compliance with the relevant terms and conditions.

Waste Disposal Plants

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum permitted levels of smell from a waste plant are.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency regulates odour emissions from waste facilities with the objective of achieving "no reasonable cause for annoyance". The level of odour from a waste facility that will result in annoyance will depend on factors such as the type, strength and duration of odour. Guidance for Environment Agency officers in determining unacceptable levels of odour from waste facilities is provided in "Internal Guidance for the Regulation of odour at waste management facilities" and "IPPC Horizontal guidance note H4—external consultation". Both of these documents are available on the Environment Agency's website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

Waste Disposal Plants

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work has been done on assessing the effect of waste treatment plants on livestock.

Michael Meacher: No work has been done specifically relating to the effects of waste treatment plants on livestock.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Housing Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he plans to take into account the National Audit Office report, "Improving Social Housing Through Transfer", in his forthcoming statement on council housing finance; and whether he contributed to the NAO report during its preparation.

Tony McNulty: The National Audit Office worked closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in researching their report on "Improving Social Housing Through Transfer". This has been helpful in the broader review of the vehicles for the delivery of the decent home target.

Firefighters' Dispute

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many armed forces breathing apparatus rescue teams and rescue equipment support teams were on fire cover during the strike by members of the Fire Brigades Union on 21 January 2003.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (John Barrett) on 30 January 2003, Official Report.

Local Government Finance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he will take to lift the ceiling on local authority funding in order to allow more resources to be directed towards the police.

Nick Raynsford: Local authorities are split into three groups for the purposes of the floor and ceiling calculations. These are:
	authorities with responsibility for education and social services;
	shire district councils; and
	police and metropolitan fire authorities, including the Greater London Authority.
	The total amount of grant for each of these groups is unaltered by the application of floors and ceilings. Therefore, lifting the ceiling would not direct more resources to this group. In order to pay for the increased level of the ceiling, either the level of the floor would need to be lowered, or the authorities between the floor and the ceiling would need to contribute more money to help pay for the floor via the scaling factor. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes that it has set the level of floors and ceilings at an appropriate level to ensure a reasonable increase in grant for all authorities.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Hywel Francis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how the development of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has been influenced by lessons from the Adult and Community Learning Fund.

Barbara Roche: The development of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy was influenced by the Adult and Community Learning Fund in that Department for Education and Skills officials provided the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit with the findings of the independent ACLF evaluations and impact studies as the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy was being devised.

Waste Disposal

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will impose, as an additional requirement upon the City of London Corporation, as part of the local government grant allocation settlement, provision for the effective removal from forest and other open space land, for which it is responsible, rubbish which has been fly-tipped, obsolete tyres and refrigerators and abandoned cars, from its own resources; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Under section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the local authority (or the Environment Agency) has the power to remove fly-tipped waste from private land and to recover the costs of doing so from the perpetrators, where they can be traced. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the policy on fly-tipping. There are no plans to require local authorities to remove fly-tipped waste as such a requirement would provide an incentive for unscrupulous operators to fly-tip waste in the knowledge that it would be removed at no cost to them. Local authorities are already required to remove abandoned vehicles. It would therefore not be appropriate to impose additional requirements on the City.

Working Families Tax Credit

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the differing regional take ups of working families tax credit before deciding that it would be appropriate for working families tax credit to be used in the education formulae of the local government grant.

Nick Raynsford: Ministers are aware of the difficulties caused by differential take-up rates and that, as a new scheme, the working families tax credit might be particularly affected. They considered, however, that the benefit to the education formula of broadening the measurement of social need considerably outweighed any drawbacks.

WALES

Bmibaby (Cardiff)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had regarding the services offered by the airline Bmibaby from Cardiff airport.

Peter Hain: Services at Cardiff airport frequently arise in my discussions. The growing range of destinations now being offered by Bmibaby represents a substantial improvement in local customer choice, as well as a welcome contribution to the economy of South Wales.

Computer Misuse

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in each of the last five years, broken down by each category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Peter Hain: One, since the establishment of the Wales Office on 1 July 1999. The individual concerned was given a formal warning.

Departmental Running Costs

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the running costs were of the Department in (a) 1997 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The net running costs of the Wales Office in 2001–02 were £2.4 million. The Department was established in 1999.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in the Department; and what the figures were for 1997.

Peter Hain: Since the establishment of the Wales Office on 1 July 1999, it has been staffed entirely by secondees mainly from the National Assembly for Wales. As at 1 January 2003, the number of full-time equivalents seconded to the Wales Office was 42 staff.

Higher Education Funding

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on devolving to the National Assembly for Wales powers over tuition fees and maintenance grants over the weekend prior to the launch of the White Paper on Higher Education.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, including, most recently, the question of further devolution in this area to the National Assembly for Wales.

Industrial Action/Illness

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many working days have been lost in his Department owing to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997–98.

Peter Hain: holding answer 30 January 2003
	My Department was created in July 1999 and has lost no days to industrial action. In respect of illness I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 514W.

Job Sharing

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department.

Peter Hain: Job sharing is only one of a number of alternative and flexible working patterns that staff at the Wales Office are welcome to take up. The flexibility of the pattern is decided in consultation with management to suit an individual's need and the needs of their work. At the present time, the Wales Office has eight staff out of 49 who work a flexible pattern; none of these job-share.

Media Briefings

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what briefings he provided to the media in advance of the statement made by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on higher education, 22 January 2003, Official Report, columns 301–19, in respect of reports that the National Assembly for Wales was to be given additional powers over student support in higher education.

Peter Hain: I gave no such briefings. However, my Department did field media calls on the issue. After the statement to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, I gave on the record interviews and issued a press statement.

Special Advisers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers there are in his Department; what their cost was in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I have two special advisers. Special advisers are paid on national salary scales that apply to all Government Departments; the basic scale currently ranges from £34,851 to £45,760.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Bank Accounts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what identity verification requirements there are for the opening of a basic bank account; and if he will make a statement on the measures being taken to minimise fraud in relation to the payment of benefits into basic bank accounts.

Malcolm Wicks: When a customer opens a basic bank account of their choice, under the money laundering regulations, they will need to provide proof of who they are and where they live. The bank will tell them which documents they will accept as proof—typical things are a passport, full current driving licence, order book, utility bill and council tax bill.
	The move to payment directly into basic bank accounts uses tried and tested technology already chosen by over 42 per cent. of benefit recipients to access their benefit payments via bank accounts.

Benefit Payments

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what safeguards are in place to ensure (a) that the automated payment of benefits to bank accounts is to accounts in claimants' own names and (b) that such accounts are genuinely opened and operated by the claimant in question; in what circumstances he allows benefits to be paid to an account in the name of a person other than the claimant; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Benefits are paid into the account nominated on the claim form by the claimant. The claims and payments regulations allow payment into accounts in the name of the person entitled to benefit, or their spouse (or partner), or a person acting on their behalf, or in the joint names of the person entitled to benefit and their spouse (or partner), or the person entitled to benefit and a person acting on their behalf. These are the options listed on claim forms or other relevant literature.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 11 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. A. Ali.

Andrew Smith: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 30 January 2003

Empty Homes

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many empty homes his Department (a) had five years ago and (b) has now, by region; if he will establish an empty homes strategy within his Department; and if he will set a target for reduction in empty homes.

Malcolm Wicks: This Department occupies approximately 1,800 buildings. Of those, only 6 contain living accommodation. One of the two flats which form a sub-lettable part of a DWP building in the London region is vacant at present. All such sub-lettable space is actively managed by the department's property advisers to minimise vacancies. We are currently looking at options for the future of the building as a whole.
	In view of the numbers involved I do not believe the Department needs either a strategy or a target for reduction. Records that are available indicate that there were no unoccupied homes five years ago.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given her by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 574W.

China

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government about the treatment of female prisoners in Drapchi prison, Tibet.

Bill Rammell: We raised our concerns specifically about the treatment of both nuns and monks in Drapchi prison in the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
	An EU Ambassadors Troika delegation, led by the UK, as President, visited Tibet, including Drapchi prison in 1998.

Egypt

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning a court case challenging the constitutionality of the Hamayouni Decree, governing the construction of Christian places of worship in Egypt, which is due to open in Cairo on 28 January 2003; and whether he will be sending a human rights observer to monitor the trial.

Mike O'Brien: Our officials at the British Embassy in Cairo have been monitoring the case challenging the constitutionality of the Hamayouni Decree in Egypt. The trial session on 28 January was the first trial hearing since the case was referred from the State Commissioners court. Our officials have learned that the case has been adjourned until 28 February for further examination of the case by the authorities. Our officials in Cairo will continue to monitor the trial.

Embassy Security

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been allocated to the increased protection of British embassies and consulates since 11 September 2001; and what general improvements have been made.

Bill Rammell: The FCO embarked on a programme of physical security enhancements following the 1998 attacks on US missions in East Africa. After the attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, the FCO accelerated its investment in further securing both staff and missions. Over £25 million has been invested in physical security enhancements for British missions overseas. This work has included the installation of bomb blast windows, reinforcement of perimeter security and a variety of other physical security enhancements at a number of posts.

Gibraltar

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar; and what issues were discussed.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met the Chief Minister during his visit to Gibraltar on 3 May 2002. They discussed a wide range of issues.

Visa Centres (India)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new visa centres will open in (a) Gujarat and (b) the Punjab.

Bill Rammell: We plan to open a visa application centre in Jalandhar (Punjab) on 3 February. New application centres will also open that day in New Delhi and Chandigarh. The new application centre in Gujarat will open on 24 February in Ahmedabad, as will the centres in Mumbai and Pune. We also plan to open application centres in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad on 10 February and in Kolkata on 17 February.
	The establishment of this network of 10 application centres is part of our continuing effort to improve visa services for our customers in India. Many will no longer need to make the often long and difficult journey to make a visa application, but instead can visit one of the conveniently located application centres closer to their home.

India/Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage (a) India and (b) Pakistan to sign up to (i) the Test Ban Treaty and (ii) the Non Proliferation Treaty.

Mike O'Brien: The UK supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1172, adopted on 6 June 1999, which calls upon both India and Pakistan to cease nuclear testing, to stop their programmes for the development of nuclear weapons and systems for delivery of such weapons, and to enter into dialogue to reduce (and ultimately remove) tensions between them. It also urges both states to accede to both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty without delay and without conditions.
	We regularly press both countries to abide by all the obligations placed upon them by this resolution.

India/Pakistan

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to his counterparts in (a) India and (b) Pakistan on their nuclear weapons programmes; and what the response was.

Mike O'Brien: The issue of the nuclear weapons programmes of both India and Pakistan has been discussed at many meetings at both ministerial and official level, particularly since the crisis last September.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the country of manufacture is of the gas canisters discovered by UN inspectors in Iraq on 16 January; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer of 30 January 2003
	. UNMOVIC have not yet disclosed to us the origin of the goods discovered on 16 January.

Israel

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to present to the United Nations a proposed resolution to require Israel to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.

Mike O'Brien: We regularly urge Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state and to enter into a full safeguards agreement with the IAEA. We also use our bilateral contacts with them to raise the issue of Israeli accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
	The UK has consistently supported a number of resolutions at the UN calling for the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Malta

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he voted in the Council of Ministers to allow the shooting of migratory birds in Malta for five years after the Maltese join the EU.

Denis MacShane: As part of the package agreed during the EU accession negotiations, Malta was granted one transition period until the end of 2008 in order to phase out the trapping of seven types of finch and establish a captive breeding programme. Malta is also entitled, like existing member states, to apply a derogation under Article 9 of the Birds Directive which will allow the practice of the taking of quail and turtle dove in spring to continue. The Copenhagen European Council agreed, unanimously, to the global package on enlargement, including for Malta.

North Korea

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 1990 the UK has raised its concerns in the UN about the North Korean missile development programme.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has raised the issue in informal and private consultations with other member states at the UN and with the UN Secretary-General on a number of occasions. The number of such representations made is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the UK, as a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, has been party to statements made by the President of the Security Council and a resolution in connection to North Korea's nuclear programmes since 1990. These include a statement to the media made by the President of the Security Council following consultations by the Council on 8 April 1993; Resolution 825 adopted by the Security Council on 11 May 1993, and three further statements made by the President of the Security Council on 31 March 1994, 30 May 1994 and 4 November 1994.

Publicity and Advertising

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) publicity and (ii) advertising in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The separately identifiable expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the categories listed by the hon. Member are:
	
		Expenditure by category -- £
		
			  Publicity Advertising  
		
		
			 1995–96 16,768,873 0 
			 1996–97 14,104,569 0 
			 1997–98 14,627,831 54,038 
			 1998–99 11,919,392 1,029,850 
			 1999–2000 13,545,306 54,498 
			 2000–01 13,233,690 51,950 
			 2001–02 10,682,233 49,581 
			 2002–03(7) 10,061,313 14,926 
		
	
	(7) Estimated outturn.
	The figures provided represent the expenditure of the FCO and not of Wilton Park, our only agency, or our 10 NDPBs; these details are not held centrally and cannot therefore be compiled without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The figures in the table include expenditure on consular publicity but exclude expenditure on advertising for recruitment. The advertising figure for 1998–99 includes £1 million spent on a consular advertising campaign in the run-up to the 1998 World Cup held in France. In addition to the expenditure identified, there was minor additional expenditure in the United Kingdom and overseas during the years specified. This cannot be ascertained without incurring disproportionate cost. The Government are committed to using only cost effective channels to deliver the publicity necessary to support policy implementation. Paid advertising is only resorted to after careful consideration of the cost-benefits.

Saudi Arabia (British Detainees)

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is being given to British subjects travelling to Saudi Arabia about terrorist threats to their safety; and what precautions they are being advised to take following the recent bombing.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign Office's travel advice for Saudi Arabia warns British nationals that "Saudi Arabia is one of a number of countries where there is an increased threat to visible British institutions and organisations from global terrorism." It explains that "given the heightened tension in the Middle East region and the increased threat from global terrorism, UK nationals in Saudi Arabia should be vigilant, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, restaurants and shopping malls. Visitors and residents should follow political developments in the region; and observe the British Embassy's advice on personal and vehicle security." The travel advice also alerts British nationals to the recent series of bombings in Riyadh and Al Khobar where British nationals were among the victims.
	Our travel advice is kept constantly under review. It is available on the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk and the website for the British Embassy, Riyadh www.ukm.org.sa. The British Embassy in Riyadh also provides regular advice to British residents in Saudi Arabia through its wardens' network.

Sickness Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the rate of staff (a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in his Department and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sickness absence figures are listed in the table. Absentee rates and information on FCO non-departmental public bodies absences are not stored centrally so it is not possible to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs. However all the FCO's 10 NDPBs are small, with virtually no full-time staff.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has set a Service Delivery Agreement to reduce sickness absence to 5.6 days by the end of 2003.
	
		
			 Year Average number of days per officer 
		
		
			 1997 8.9 
			 1998 8.0 
			 1999 N/a 
			 2000 6.3 
			 2001 6.6 
			 2002 5.7 
		
	
	l. Figures for 1997 to 1998 have been uplifted to account for different recording practices in different parts of the Department and its overseas posts.
	2. Figures for 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate costs, the method of recording changed part way through 1999.
	3. FCO figures are recorded as total days (not working days).
	4. It is not possible to provide figures prior to 1997 without incurring disproportionate costs.

United Nations (Global Terrorism)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the text of the Security Council Resolution and (b) a transcript of the Security Council Debate, on the International Community's response to Global Terrorism, held at United Nations Headquarters on 23 January.

Bill Rammell: I have placed in the Library a copy of Security Council Resolution 1456 (2003) and the transcript of the Security Council Debate, on the International Community's response to Global Terrorism, which actually took place at United Nations Headquarters on 20 January.

TREASURY

Capital Modernisation Fund

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 246W, what his Department's priorities were for funding under the Capital Modernisation Fund in 2001; and which of those priorities the application from Citizens Advice Scotland failed to meet.

Paul Boateng: The criteria for the Capital Modernisation Fund include innovation, the improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivered to the end-user, and the need for additional funds to deliver the service above normal departmental allocations. However, as the Fund is limited and is generally considerably oversubscribed, it is necessary to judge bids not just on their own merits, but on their relative priority against other bids.

Capital Modernisation Fund

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 246W, how many applications from Scotland were made to the Capital Modernisation Fund in 2001; and how many of those applications were successful in obtaining funds from his Department.

Paul Boateng: As explained in my Answer of 21 January, the devolved administrations automatically receive a share of allocations made from the Capital Modernisation Fund for devolved matters, calculated according to the Barnett formula. There is no need for the Scottish Executive to submit bids to receive this funding.

Customs and Excise

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library the information on release of posts from support for redeployment which was the basis of the report in the Customs and Excise Spring 2002 report, column 5427, on PSA 2000 target 7; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  if he will place in the Library the formula for aggregating the underlying data into the performance indicator of the Customs and Excise Spring 2002 report; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Customs target to release posts from support to activities which directly contribute to PSA/SDA outcomes covers the three years of the SR2000 period. It therefore applies until 31 March 2004. The Spring 2002 Report was based on support activity remaining at around 17 per cent. of total activity, even though additional support posts had been added to baseline to begin implementation of the Department's e-Business programme. An update on the target was provided in the Department's "Annual Report and Accounts" for 2001–02 (Cm5671). I am placing the formula for aggregating underlying output and input data in the Library.

Customs and Excise

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of total public spending on HM Customs and Excise in each year from 1990–91 to 2004–05 (planned) in real terms using 2000–01 prices; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information on past total public expenditure on HM Customs & Excise is in the Department's Annual Reports (specifically—in the Financial Statements until 1998–99, and from 1999–00 in the Departmental Resource Accounts) covering each year 1990–91 to 2001–02. Copies are available in the Library. Planned out-turn for 2002–03 and 2003–04 was published in June 2002 in the Department's Spring Report. High level data for the period through to 2005–06 was published in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper. Prices can be adjusted to 2000–01 levels by applying the GDP deflator, which can be found on the Treasury's website under Economic Data and Tools. More up to date and detailed information on the Department's spending plans will appear in the Departmental Spring Report 2003.

Customs and Excise

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse will be, including compensation payments, of the collapsed prosecutions by Customs and Excise referred to in the Economic Secretary's statement of 23rd January, including cases to be withdrawn in the immediate future.

John Healey: holding answer 28 January 2003
	Following the decision of the prosecution to offer no evidence in the London City Bond abuse of process hearing in November last year, the Commissioners of Customs & Excise and the Prosecution Group of Customs' Solicitors Office (who are now accountable to the Attorney General) commenced a review of the safety of the convictions in all LCB- connected cases. The decision of the prosecution not to oppose the appeal in the case of R v Grant and others (known as the 'Stockade' case) in the Court of Appeal was the outcome of part of that review.
	As I explained to the House in my Statement of 23 January, twenty further cases are being reviewed, and there have been eight in which no evidence was offered against defendants, or in which convictions have been overturned by the Court of Appeal. The cost of instructing Prosecuting Counsel in these eight cases was 4.3m, out of the total prosecution legal costs in all the LCB cases of £7.4million.
	Estimates are not available for other costs, such as legal aid costs for defendants. Claims for compensation under the statutory miscarriage of justice scheme are for the Home Office, and it is not known whether any such claims will be made, or whether they will be successful. Claims for common law damages against Customs will be resisted, and are not expected to be successful.

Financial Services

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis, and on what date, the value of the assets of a financial institution are valued for purposes of calculating the level of compensation available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the way in which the scheme would apply to policy holders of a life assurance and pensions provider in the event of the company becoming insolvent.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 27 January 2003
	The valuation of assets of a financial institution does not affect the level of compensation available under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS can pay compensation when an authorised financial institution is unable, or likely to be unable, to meet the claims against it and the valuation of the assets of the institution may be a relevant factor in the FSCS's decision.
	The basis on which claims against a financial institution are valued are set out in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme's Rules.
	How the Scheme would apply to policyholders of an insolvent life insurer is also covered in the Scheme's Rules.
	The Rules are written by the Financial Services Authority (the FSA), and form part of the FSA Handbook under 'Redress, Compensation'. The Rules are readily available, and can be viewed by accessing the FSA website, www.fsa.gov.uk.

Inland Revenue

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue computers have been (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following totals of PCs and Laptops that have either been lost or stolen come from the Inland Revenue's Security Incident Reporting database.
	
		
			  Laptop PCs  
			  Lost Stolen Lost Stolen Total 
		
		
			 1998 1 6 0 26 33 
			 1999 0 29 0 51 80 
			 2000 3 43 0 56 102 
			 2001 3 56 0 201 260 
			 2002 2 32 0 52 86 
			 Total 9 166 0 386 561 
		
	
	The Inland Revenue operates a proactive security risk management system. All office managers are required to carry out regular security reviews of their buildings and report annually through line management to the Chairman of the Board. The Department has it's own team security advisors to assist managers and audit the process.

Private Finance Initiative

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to hold an overall review of the Private Finance Initiative process;
	(2)  what reforms (a) he has made and (b) he intends to make to the procurement process of the of the Private Finance Initiative

Paul Boateng: The Government keeps all aspects of procurement policy under review in order to ensure that high quality public services are delivered on the basis of value for money.
	Starting with the abolition of compulsory testing and the development of Treasury Taskforce guidance on PFI, the Government has introduced a number of reforms to spread best practice, including revised guidance on standardised contracts; the launch of a new Green Book on project appraisal; the launch of a Code of Conduct on the refinancing of early PFI projects; and the piloting of batched procurement.

Public Services Productivity

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 January, Official Report, column 420W, on Public Services Productivity, if he will list the members of the Public Services Productivity Panel that attended each meeting since January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Public Services Productivity Panel is a small group of senior business people and public sector managers that meets occasionally to assist with the development of policy. The Panel have met nine times since January 2000. All of these meetings were well attended.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Assaults on NHS Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place last year against people who assaulted NHS staff; and what range of penalties was imposed.

Hilary Benn: As the hon. Member will be aware, a cross-Government NHS zero tolerance zone campaign was launched in October 1999 to tackle violence against staff working in the NHS. The campaign aims to get the message to both NHS staff and members of the public that violence against NHS staff is unacceptable and the Government are determined to stamp it out.
	The specific information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Departmental Running Costs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the running costs of (a) the Department and (b) each of its sponsored agencies were in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

David Blunkett: The Home Office running costs are set out in the Departmental Annual report and placed in the Library.

Departmental Secondments

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff from his Department are on secondment elsewhere; and where they are seconded.

David Blunkett: Secondments are part of the Interchange initiative, which promotes the exchange of people and good practice between the civil service and other organisations. All sectors of the economy are involved: voluntary, education, health, public and private. Interchange provides opportunities for civil servants to learn new skills, widen their experience and develop ideas. It also brings in skills and experiences from other sectors.
	A total of 539 members of staff are seconded outside the Home Office, including 429 to Centrex (formerly National Police Training) which used to be part of the Home Office.
	Details of organisations are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of staff Name of organisation Type of organisation 
		
		
			 UK   
			 1 Lincolnshire health authority NHS 
			 1 Cambridgeshire health authority NHS 
			 1 County Durham and Darlington health authority NHS 
			 1 Hull University 
			 1 Oxford University 
			 1 Taunton School Education 
			 1 Kent county council Local government 
			 1 National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders Voluntary sector 
			 1 Bromley-by-Bow Voluntary sector 
			 1 Parent Line Voluntary sector 
			 1 Westminster Volunteer Bureau Voluntary sector 
			 1 Vineyard Charity Voluntary sector 
			 1 People's Dispensary for Sick Animals Voluntary sector 
			 1 Oasis Trust Voluntary sector 
			 1 Barnet Citizen Advice Bureau Voluntary sector 
			 1 Runningmead Trust Voluntary sector 
			 1 L'Arche Lambeth Voluntary sector 
			 1 Southwark Mind Voluntary sector 
			 2 Hospice in the Weald Voluntary sector 
			 1 Princes Trust Voluntary sector 
			 1 CLINKS Voluntary sector 
			 3 Butler Trust Voluntary sector 
			 2 Jill Dando Institute Voluntary sector 
			 1 Commission for Race Equality Public sector 
			 1 Audit Commission Public sector 
			 1 Postal Services Commission Public sector 
			 1 Thames Valley Partnership Public sector 
			 2 Security Services Public sector 
			 1 Cartwright Pickard Architects Private sector 
			 1 Banks Hoggins O'Shea FCB Private sector 
			 1 KPMG Private sector 
			 1 COCA COLA Private sector 
			 1 Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations Private sector 
			 16 PITO NDPB 
			 10 Youth Justice Board NDPB 
			 429 Centrex NDPB 
			 29 NCIS NDPB 
			 2 Broadcasting Standards Commission NDPB 
			 Overseas   
			 1 Department of Justice, Australia Public sector 
			 6 European Commission Public sector 
			 2 ENA Business School Strasbourg Education 
			 1 Australian Institute of Criminology University 
			 1 Lausanne University University 
			 1 British Embassy Washington Public sector 
			 1 Bulgarian Government Public sector 
			 1 Department of the Solicitor General Canada Public sector 
			 1 Citizen and Immigration Canada Public sector

Drug/Alcohol Addiction

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change in real terms in spending on drug and alcohol addiction was over the three years to 2005–06.

Bob Ainsworth: Allowing for inflation, the Government's annual planned expenditure on proactively tackling drugs is:
	2003–04—£1,216 million: a 19 per cent. increase on the current year;
	2004–05—£1,281 million: a 25 per cent. increase on the current year; and
	2005–06—£1,383 million: a 35 per cent. increase on the current year.
	The majority of the funding for alcohol treatment is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social service departments, which is consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. This method of funding means that it is not possible to give details of spending on alcohol treatment, but latest estimates indicate that around £95 million is spent each year on treatment in England, and that most of this funding is provided by the Government.

Prison Budgets

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the relationship between the budget of individual prisons and the number of educational and vocational qualifications obtained by their inmates.

Hilary Benn: From 2001, the core budget for prison education has been ring-fenced and is administered jointly by the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills, through the Prisoners' Learning and Skills Unit. At the time of ring-fencing, education budgets were historically based, but from 2002–03, part of the education budget has been linked to achievement of basic skills qualifications. We will develop further the links between funding and educational and vocational qualifications as we increase funding for prison education to £125 million by 2005–06. The recent review of prison education funding and procurement also identified opportunities for introducing other relevant achievement measures and we are considering these.

Prison Governors

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prison establishments in which there have been changes at governor level, including changes involving those acting as governor for one month or more, in the last five years; when each such change took place; and who (a) the governor leaving and (b) the replacement was in each case.

Hilary Benn: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Prison Officers/Police Officers

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the (a) prevalence and (b) causes of occupational stress (i) among prison officers and (ii) in the police.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service carried out an audit into the causes and extent of stress among prison officers and other staff in 2001–02. The audits were conducted at a number of representative prisons and at headquarters. The results suggest that stress is common among prison staff and is due to a wide range of causes. As a result of this work, the Prison Service is developing a policy for preventing stress together with a range of initiatives aimed at supporting those who may be suffering from stress.
	Figures for police sickness absence showed an average loss of 11.5 working days per officer in 2001–02 and an average of 12 working days per support staff member. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has not previously recorded exact figures on what proportion of that absence relates to stress, although stress and musculo-skeletal disorders are unofficially recognised as the two main contributors.
	From April 2003, all forces will have begun measuring sickness absence according to new data collection arrangements. This was released in June last year by the Police Numbers Task Force and will ensure that sickness absence is broken down into categories, including stress-related illness. The new data collection arrangements will enable forces to target the types of sickness absence that have the most effect on them.
	There has been much discussion by occupational health professionals both inside and outside the Police Service regarding the causes of stress. As yet there is no one prevailing view on the subject. Some forces have already conducted internal stress audits/and begun to target the causes of stress at local level.

Probation Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning (a) workloads and (b) resources in the Probation Service.

Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, through the National Probation Directorate, has received representations as follows:
	(a) In respect of workloads, representations were made by the Trade Unions and staff representative bodies which led in January 2001 to a Joint Agreement on Priorities and Employee Care between the Home Office, probation employers, Trade Unions and staff representative bodies. This agreement identified the areas for concern raised by all signatories and a joint framework for improvement. The National Probation Directorate is leading the project to design and implement a Workload Measurement Tool, and has provided a Workload Prioritisation Framework.
	The National Association of Probation Officers is undertaking a campaign in respect of workloads which has led to a formal dispute. Local agreements to settle this dispute have now been reached in 34 of the 42 areas of the National Probation Service for England and Wales, and negotiations continue in the remaining eight areas.
	(b) In respect of resources, 16 Probation Boards have expressed views about their budget for 2003–04.

Probation Service

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the (a) pay and (b) career development rewards available to probation officers for personal success in reducing re-offending by offenders assigned to them; and what plans he has to change them.

Hilary Benn: Probation officers are paid on a range in accordance with a nationally negotiated salary spine as part of the national agreement on pay and conditions of service.
	(a) The current salary spine for probation officers is from a minimum of £19,443 to a maximum of £26,226.
	(b) Probation officers are eligible for merit increases when they reach the maximum of the pay spine with a current maximum of £28,686.
	The National Probation Directorate, in conjunction with the Probation Boards Association and the trade unions representing staff in the National Probation Service (NPS), is currently reviewing the structure of pay and reward for staff in NPS, including probation officers. The objective of this re-evaluation of the current system is to see that the NPS has an appropriate pay and reward strategy that properly rewards staff for high performance and ensures the recruitment and retention of a highly skilled and motivated work force.

Restriction and Restraining Orders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many travel restriction orders have been made by the courts under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001;
	(2)  how many restraining orders for sexual offenders have been made by the courts pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

Hilary Benn: Restraining orders for sexual offenders were introduced on 1 June 2001, but none was reported to the Home Office Court Proceedings Database as having been made in the period to 31December 2001.
	The orders were introduced alongside a wide range of other measures. We expect the number of orders to increase as the courts become more familiar with the orders and how they can be applied.
	Travel restriction orders were brought into force on 1 April 2002, and statistics for 2002 are not yet available.
	Information for 2002 is due for publication in the late autumn of 2003.

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

David Blunkett: The Home Department's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published in the next few days.

Special Branch

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to create a national special branch co-ordination unit;
	(2)  what plans he has to create a single UK special branch; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: We welcome plans being considered by the police service to strengthen special branch along regional lines. Even closer co-operation between neighbouring special branches will build on and improve effective working relationships.
	The form that such re-organisation might take-including whether there is a need for a national co-ordinator of special branch-is currently the subject of discussions within the police service, and between my Department and the police service.